What’s Up?

This one’s really for my mum and dad, to let them hear my progress in the whole guitar-learning area. I debated giving it a password and letting only them have access to it, but then I thought, hey (yea, yea, yea, hey, yea, yea), I’ve never done that, and if my readers don’t want to [...]

Shoes

I’m quite sentimental about my trusty walking sandals. My cousin had a pair, and recommended them for comfort and durability, so I bought them the day before I left Northern Ireland (the first time around) to head off to Estonia for my first taste of travel and adventure. They’re nothing special to look at, but they’re [...]

Carry on, Camping.

We had a huge thunderstorm here on Friday afternoon. The day had been ‘very close’ as the folks back home say, and then all of a sudden the sun disappeared, the heavy grey clouds seemed to drop right down on top of the buildings, and darkness fell. I have to admit, it was a little [...]

While my guitar teacher gently weeps.

I am not the most gifted guitar player in the world. Learning to play is proving to be a lot like learning other things in my life: languages, games, how to be in a relationship… I’m great at studying the topic and getting a solid grasp of the theory, but suffer miserably when it comes [...]

Listening for the clicks

I’m spending my free time these days looking for jobs in France. Originally, I reached this decision reluctantly, wishing with all my heart that Korea were closer to home so that I could be a bit more connected to my family and visit more regularly – to enjoy my life abroad as an ESL teacher [...]

Kill me now (or, “Reasons why I do not enjoy hiking”)

I wrote this post in my head today between 11am and 4pm, as I was climbing a mountain just outside Daejeon. I am not a hiker. In Korea, however, hiking is pretty much the national pastime. You can sort of understand why when you see the breathtaking sight of the beautiful – but mostly mountainous [...]

Teachers’ Day

Teachers’ Day in South Korea is almost as big a deal as Children’s Day, although we teachers don’t get to enjoy a national public holiday (boooo). It’s on May 15th, which unfortunately falls on a Sunday this year, so there aren’t too many presents to be seen in school today – only a few devoted [...]

Rain dance

Summer is here again, which means – amongst other things – that we can’t wear our hair down any more, lest it become plastered across our faces and necks. I sat in the bar where we were celebrating Irish Friend One’s birthday the other night, fanning myself and looking wistfully out through the open doors [...]

Soju bonding

Some locals will be joining us. Will explain.  I groan to myself as I leave my apartment and look at the new message on my phone. Chris (my newest colleague, Alex’s replacement) and I decided to go for dinner at my long-time favourite dak galbi restaurant down the road, after a very long and exhausting [...]

Children’s Day

I found this post in my drafts folder. Apparently I wrote it following last year‘s extravaganza and then forgot to post it. So anyway, now it’s one year later and tomorrow is a public holiday in honour of the young ‘uns. It’s like Christmas in school today! And to conserve all my energy for the [...]

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.